Four weeks after surgery, I met with my surgeon for a final check-up. I have not seen him since immediately before the surgery. It felt like a "final exam" of sorts, and, typical of me, I went with great anxiety. My fears were relieved, however, when Dr. Chiang gave me a positive response. We looked at my x-rays taken the day of the exam, and he was very pleased with his work. I had to admit, the pictures revealed a clear picture of two perfectly positioned prostheses, one secured into the femur (thigh) bone and one secured into the tibia (bottom) bone. While we all rejoiced in this surgical work of art, I was told that the hard work has just begun. We -- rather I--am only part way there. I must work to bend the knee equivalent to the bending of the right knee. He said I am fighting a war against the knee's natural propensity to form scar tissue, and I cannot let that happen. I will never had full extension of the knee or full bend if that tissue is allowed to form scar tissue inside.
The doctor said that I should feel much better between weeks four and six, and pain will continue to reduce as I strengthen the leg and force the knee to bend. Since I am not on blood-thinner anymore, I can use an anti-inflammatory drug such as Aleve or Advil for pain. The narcotics should finally be a thing of the past -- yippee!! If I am faithful to push myself, to stretch and bend, at the end of two more months I will be as good as new.
At this point, he has released me from all limited activity. I can drive a car, play golf (as if I could play golf), walk, hike, swim, do stairs and bike. The only thing I cannot do is sustained running, like a marathon (as if I could do a marathon). Someday I will be able to bend enough to weed the garden, but Dave still has to do that right now......
I am greatly relieved by the "final exam." I saw it with my own eyes. Psychologically, I know that I cannot hurt anything inside the knee at this point and that my final out-come is finally up to me and my determination. I am humbled and grateful -- and sore.
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